Wales have suffered a further injury blow ahead of the 2013 Six Nations with the news that lock Luke Charteris will miss their entire tournament with a knee injury.

The 29-year-old, who started Wales' last two internationals against New Zealand and Australia this autumn, ruptured ligaments in his right knee during Perpignan's 30-19 Top 14 win over Montpellier.

Charteris will miss the rest of the season with the injury, all but ruling him out of contention for the British & Irish Lions' tour to Australia next summer.

Wales have already lost Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland and Ospreys prop Adrian Jarvis for their Six Nations defence. Priestland suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury in a Heineken Cup game against Exeter earlier this month and he is unlikely to play again this term.

Jarvis, meanwhile, went off with a knee injury during the early minutes of Wales' defeat against world champions New Zealand last month.

Prop Adam Jones and flanker Dan Lydiate were ruled out of the entire autumn series of games against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, although Jones has recently started his comeback with the Ospreys.

Charteris' fellow lock Alun-Wyn Jones is currently sidelined with shoulder trouble, while Ospreys second-row Ian Evans has a knee injury and Cardiff Blues backs Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny are both also sidelined.

Wales kick off their Six Nations title defence against Ireland in Cardiff on February 2, then face a Paris appointment with France eight days later.